Kerala: BJP resolution urges to probe corruption charges against UDF

The BJP raised the demand in a draft political resolution passed in the state committee meeting convened here.

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP today urged the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala to quash all decisions taken by the previous Congress-led UDF regime during the end of its tenure and probe all corruption charges against it.

The saffron party raised the demand in a draft political resolution passed in the state committee meeting convened here.

"The LDF government should show readiness to quash all the decisions taken by the previous ministry. It should also fulfill its promise to investigate all corruption allegation cropped up against them," it said.

It specifically demanded withdrawal of permission granted to the controversial Aranmula airport project by the state government.

The proposed project in Pathanamthitta district had run into trouble from the start with environmentalists and local Aranmula Heritage Protection Committee coming out against it.

The resolution also said that the Left government's stand in the proposed 163 MW Athirappilly hydro power project and Mullaperiyar dam issues was "mysterious".

The government and the CM's stand amounted to insulting the people and environment activists in these issues, it said.

Kerala and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads over the dam in Idduki district of Kerala, but under administrative control of Tamil Nadu as per a 999-year lease agreement, the dam caters to the irrigation needs in southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Kerala has been pressing for a new dam on the ground that the present one is dilapidated, but Tamil Nadu says it is safe. Based on the report by the Empowered Committee, the apex court had allowed TN to raise the water level to 142 feet in 2014.

The Athirapally project, which received techno economic clearance in 2005, has raised fears among environmentalists that clearance to it would result in destroying wildlife in Athirapally-Vazhachal forest ranges along Western Ghats.

On June 22 last year, Kerala High Court had said the project cannot go ahead without environmental clearance from the Centre.

The resolution also alleged that besides the anti-incumbency wave against the Oommen Chandy government, its "secret alliance" with communal forces had also helped CPI(M) come to power in the May 16 Assembly polls.